BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2206
86R4551 SOS-F	By: Kolkhorst
	State Affairs
	4/2/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Successful schools and colleges rely on public participation and community engagement. Currently, there is no requirement for board members of school districts or junior college districts to publicly provide the contact information and terms of office for each board member. School district and junior college district board members are locally elected public officials entrusted with the responsibility of governing public schools and community colleges. It is an essential function of school boards and junior college boards to be responsive to their respective communities. Thus, it is critical for the public to have access to school board and junior college board member contact information and to be aware of their terms of office. 

In an effort to improve transparency and public access, S.B. 2206 calls for each school district board and junior college district board to post and update annually, on the district's internet website, the name, work e-mail address, and terms of office of each board member.

As proposed, S.B. 2206 amends current law relating to the availability of certain information regarding the members of the governing body of an independent school district or a public junior college district on the district's Internet website.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, by adding Section 11.1518, as follows:

Sec. 11.1518.� TRUSTEE INFORMATION POSTED ON WEBSITE. (a) Requires each school district to post on the district's Internet website the name, work e-mail address, and term of office, including the date the term began and the date the term expires, of each member of the district's board of trustees.

(b) Requires the information required under Subsection (a) to be updated at least once each year.

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 130, Education Code, by adding Section 130.0841, as follows:

Sec. 130.0841.� GOVERNING BOARD MEMBER INFORMATION POSTED ON WEBSITE. (a) Requires each junior college district to post on the district's Internet website the name, work e-mail address, and term of office, including the date the term began and the date the term expires, of each member of the governing board of the district.

(b)� Requires the information required under Subsection (a) to be updated at least once each year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.